12/17/01

A Forest Service
investigation found that a group of seven federal and state wildlife
biologists planted false evidence of a rare cat species in two
national forests in the state of Washington. The group introduced
conspicuous samples of lynx hair into the wild that DNA tests later
determined were from two lynxes who did not live in the wild. Had the
hoax gone undiscovered, many forms of recreation and natural resource
usage would likely have been banned. As for punishment, the employees
have all been counseled for their actions and banned from
participating in the three-year study of the lynx.